Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1887-09-27
.lieeman smoking bis pIps in the nest


door.
Now. sir, IhSpe you RS;s't lay It up against
mo for saying That tumbled 10 th5 racket ut
once, for that is the truth. While Iswailowed
none of the taffy given me no sooner saw the
policeman at that point with his pipe aiight
than twigged lin for pal in disguise:
had BEEN Observing things for r'two years. mind
you,, and such an innovation was not TO he
passed over. i explained to the man that il
would be against the rules TO admit him and
that he must sec father next day, and after
discussing the matter for awhile he walked of.
Then I gave four knocks on the door and father
opened It. He was inclined to ridienle my eS-
element but finally came around to praise my
caution. leftit about the usual time aud was
glad to find the street deserted. returned to
the restaurant at fast walk but no sooner had
reached it than wheeled about for the bank
1t struck me all ut once that the polieemanhad
caught on 10 my four knocks, and that after
had gone the pair might seek to get father to
the door by giving them. dropped the dishes
and started off on run and in three or four
minutes i was Mt tho bank. The door was
slightly open and jumped right against Il and
flung It back. A light was always left burn
ing. and Mt n glance saw that father was
down and both men on top of him. They had
his head covered with a cloth, and though he
was calling out his cries could not have been
heard ten feet. p 5' rai
The cot was at the left you entered tho
hank and the gun stood at the foot of It Just
the minute was inside realized what was
going on and the tirst move made was forthe
gun. As seized Il and wheeled about one Of
the villains, who had been sitting on fathSfS
legs, reached out foot and kicked the door
shut, and tho other gave father two blows with
short iron bar aud then sprang up and faced
me. Father Strengthened out, seeming to have
been killed by the blows, and the sight gave me
courage and determination. Whom both OF
the men were on their feet the one in uniform
cbrnmanded me to give up the gun. held 1t
in way to cover both, hammer up and finger
on the trigger, and did not mean to give itup.
For half a minute after the man spoke there
was dead. silence. The light hung from the
ceiling between me and them, andl although it
was turned down, could see the slightest
move made by either. The false policeman
picked up u stool, raised it above his head, in
deliberate way and said
"Boy, put down that gun or I'll brain youl"
'Hold on, Dick, Let me shoot him, whispered
the other, and he drew from his pocket ont of
the first reyolvers had ever seen.
He had IL pointed ut me when Dick stopped
him by saying the report would arouse some
one. Coward that he was he dared not adj
vance upon me, but suddenly flung the stool Mt
mf head. It struck the lamp with great
crash and in n second we were in darkness
The glass had not ceased rattling when
blazed away with the gun. It wasloaded with
swan shot and had pm; in Whole handful.
There were three or four screams Of rage and
pain, and one went to the floor. with n heavy
crash while the otilGr staggered to the door,
opened 1t and staggered OUT Twas after him
in jiffy. It was moonlight out doors and
saws him in fha middle OF the street. i ran
right for him, shouting for the police, and as
he turned and saw me called to him to halt
or would give him the other barrel. Well,
sir, held him right there until an officer camd
TO take him away, but must tell you that he
had three or four Of the shot in his face and
was badly dazcd. When we entered the bank
we found father sitting up and rubbing his
head, and across his feet was the dead body of
the other crook. Nearly the whole charge Of
shot had struck him in the breast and hv wdt
dead inside of n minute.
I've got the newspaper accounts pasted into
n scrap book. They made me out u hero, and
they praised me much more than deserved.
1 told the story just as It was to the bank peo-
pie, and the result was that was put in TO
watch with father and We were there together
for the next ten years. The wounded crook
got sentence TO prison. and before he went
he owned up like man to all I've told you
They got father to open the door by giving
four knocks and they had him down before he
knew what was mp. If left undisturbed they
would have made q big haul, as the bank money
was easy TO get ut. Since week eftef that
night I have been a bank watchman. and,
though have had no other chance to pIay the
hero, the fact that am kept in my place Is
evidence of my faithfnlness."